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buying euros

I will be traveling to Ireland in just 2 weeks. I just called my Credit Union about using my atm card to get euros only to find out that it can't be used overseas. I used it in Italy in 2007 and it worked. The CU said it was due to fraud. So, now what do I do to get euros?

1. Ask for a waver, which they probably will not issue.
2. Open another bank account at another bank and deposit cash in your checking account. Then use that at atm's overseas.
2. Buy Euro here and take with you. Figure what you will need, add at least 15% and get that much. If you have overages, you can sell them back to the bank you bought them at. I get Euro from my credit union at the daily rate. For me, that is a great deal. I usually take at least 2000E with me, and if needed, I have a atm card and a credit card to use for large purchases-train tickets, planes, hotels, etc.

If the person you spoke to is correct, which I also wonder about, you still have plenty of time to open a new account in a bank that will allow you to use an ATM overseas. However, ALL banks now require you to notify them of your travel plans before you go, or they often decline your card even when you are using it correctly!

Pay for whatever you can with a credit card. Open a checking account in a bank and get a debit card - but first make sure they are part of the major networks. I would not want to carry more than 200 or 300 euros at once. And buying ther - either her or there - is like throwing about 10% of your moneyout the window.

I find it very hard to believe that your atm can't be used overseas. Look on the back of it and see what logos are there - if they are the usual ones - Cirrhus, Plus... - there is no reason you can't use it.

<<I get Euro from my credit union at the daily rate. For me, that is a great deal. I usually take at least 2000E with me>>

I would bet dollars to donuts that your first sentence is far from the truth - or that you don't understand what "daily rate" means. As to the second, carrying 2000 euros in cash is incredibly risky and inadvisable.

My credit Union credit card has blocked 9 areas in the States, but this can be waived by telling it that we are traveling in that area. I would be surprised if the same thing would not hold true for the ATM card. I'm with Ira on this one: change banks if the ATM card will not work in Ireland, and let them know that this is why you are leaving the credit union.

I also agree with Ira and Michael on this. I would first go back and ask for clarification of their policy from a manager. I can't help but think that the person who told you this did not know what he/she was saying or that you misunderstood what they were saying.

If this credit union, in fact, will not allow you to use your debit card overseas, then it's time to change credit unions. There are plenty of credit unions that don't have a problem with this and they are the ones that deserve your business.

Buying a lot of euros to take with your is unwise from a safety standard and a financial standard.

We opened an account at Citibank to have a back-up debit account and they overnighted a card to my husband at no charge. I had signed up a few days earlier than he did and my card arrived by regular mail in < 6 days, so 2 weeks sounds like plenty of time to me.

If you go to a normal bank you can open an account (assuming you use cash or a certified check) and have an ATM card and access to the money the next day. (Obviously they won;t do this with a regular check - esp if out of state).

I wouldn't presume that information is false, I've read about Australian cards not being able to be used in Europe on Fodors, if I recall correctly. I think I have read about credit cards being blocked, but the same issue might apply to ATM cards. It is certainly not impossible. I lot of banks don't really care if they are inconveniencing people who travel abroad.

This is actually a good question, what would you do if you didn't have an ATM card to use abroad? I remember the old days, I used TCs and actually bought some currency in the US at a travel exchange bureau. I live in a big city, though, where that is possible. I did pay a bigger markup than an ATM card would have, sure, but you had to do that.

I think the OP should find out the markup on the bank getting some euro for them (if the CU will do that, I have never used a small CU as my only bank), and if that fails, finding a foreign exchange service in the city. Where I live, it is Travelex and any site that is not the airport gives better rates, of course. Even then, I wouldn't want to carry money for my entire trip that way, but that depends. It is possible if you make sure you use a credit card for most things abroad and you aren't going to be gone that long.

A Pre Pay card might be an option, Visa and Mastercard both offer cards you can put money on for use globally. These are generally issued by a diversity of companies and might need a little homework to find the most cost effective and who is able to get a card to you asap.

The OP is talking about an ATM card. Some others are talking about a debit card. They are not the same thing. An ATM card is only good to get cash from, well, ATMs. You can use a debit card to get money from ATMs. And you can also use it like a credit card EXCEPT the money comes out of your account immediately. It doesn't have the protection that a credit card has. Your account could be emptied before you know your card is gone. You'll get the money back eventually but what if you're on a trip?

At our local credit union, only the debit card (and the credit card) will work abroad.

The prepaid cards that Tony2phones mentions usually have so much overhead of their own: charges to load the card, charges to use the card, plus conversion fees, that you're paying a lot just to use your own money.

<<A Pre Pay card might be an option, Visa and Mastercard both offer cards you can put money on for use globally. These are generally issued by a diversity of companies and might need a little homework to find the most cost effective and who is able to get a card to you asap.>>

Yes, it's an option, but possibly the WORST option. Don't do this. You pay for the card, you get a totally lousy exchange rate, and then you pay again to re-load if you need to and again for any of your own money that you don't use. Horrible idea.

I don't think it is the ATM vs. debit card issue, although I didn't focus on that. I have an ATM card and always have and have never had a Debit card. And I am positive of that, I've had to go out of my way to get an ATM card as the banks want to force debit cards on you as they make more from them. It also says "ATM card" right on it.

And I have always been able to use my ATM card in ATMs in Europe, Mexico and Canada. So I don't think that is the reason they told the OP that, besides they specifically said it was because they wouldn't allow it due to fraud issues.

Thanks, DebitNM. I think that is the best solution for the OP. If s/he visits a bank in her locality and sets up a checking account, they should be able to issue a card before the trip. But it has to be done asap!

I called back and talked to a different person the second time and was told that my card would indeed work overseas. She asked for the dates I would be traveling. I get so frustrated when you get wrong info!!! I will use my credit card whenever possible since they don't charge overseas transaction fees.I also plan to purchase a small amt. of euros here even though I KNOW I won't get a good rate. I will use the ATM, but can I use US$ to purchase euros if all else fails?

A Prepay card may not be the best way but it beats carrying huge amounts of cash and there are actually a few decent cards out there..hence my comment about doing your homework. I have a prepay mastercard which was to negate the €6 admin charge on Ryanair until last year, had a competitive and no charge exchange rate. If your plastic does not permit overseas use then they can be a sensible option.. I will say again do your homework because yes some of these pre pay cards are a rip off.

No need to take dollars or buy a pre-paid card. Now that the issue has been straightened out with the credit union, the ATM card (4 digit pin number) will work, if not in one
ATM then in the next one.

As for using a credit card, Ireland is notorious for merchants using the DCC. If offered to be billed in U.S. dollars, or if the euro amount is also given in U.S. dollars, tell the clerk/cashier that you want the bill in euros exclusively. Otherwise you will be paying a 6% (approx.) conversion fee on your transaction on top of the 1% Visa conversion fee.

We had the old (Irish only) Ruby Card brand Pay as you Go Mastercard (€3 or 3% top up charge) to avoid the €6/£6 per seat per trip administration fee effectively €/£24 return on every monthly trip as a couple. Ryanair now issue their own pre pay Mastercard to avoid the fee but it it falls into the total rip off category.

People without cards can pre pay their car hire in the US before coming over here. (Dooley at least offer this service) so having a card is just instead of carrying large amounts of $/€

My answer was an attempt to be of assistance to those without access to credit/debit bankcard's sorry for any confusion.

I didn't think any rental car company would let you rent a car without a credit card -- because the value of the car is so much more than the amount of the rental. Though I suppose you can pay for the rental with cash, maybe when you turn it in.

Rental car without credit card means Pre payment of the rental inclusive of all insurances. There will I suppose be the €100 deposit for the part not covered by insurance. As I said Dooley are the only operator to my personal knowledge that offer this option but there may be others.

As to paying by card, I was stranded without a rental in Killarney back in 05. This was because my card would have expired mid rental and I had not taken the replacement card (stupid mistake). At the time every rental desk I approached needed a month card validity from the End of the rental. Not sure if this is still the case or not.